Integrated portable device and method implementing an accelerometer for detecting asymmetries in a movement of a user

Abstract

Method implementing an accelerometer ( 17 ) for detecting asymmetries in a movement of a user, comprising: (a) fastening a device ( 1 ) on the torso of the runner, close to his/her center of gravity (CG), said device being electrically self-sufficient and comprising a triaxial accelerometer ( 17 ) and a digital processor ( 19 ); (b) using said accelerometer to measure a sequence of acceleration data in at least the vertical direction (a v ), while the user performs at least one exercise; and (c) during or at the end of said exercise, having said processor calculate the biomechanical parameters enabling the detection of at least one asymmetry in a movement of the user, on the basis of said acceleration data.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for preventing injuries to a user during an athletic activity, comprising:
 measuring a sequence of acceleration data while a device is fastened to the user and the user performs at least one exercise, wherein the device includes an accelerometer and a digital processor that measure the sequence of acceleration data; 
 during or at an end of the exercise, calculating motion of a center of gravity of the user based on the acceleration data; 
 receiving results of a questionnaire from the user; and 
 selecting a sport equipment article for the user based on the motion of the center of gravity of the user and the results of the questionnaire. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sport equipment article is a pair of shoes. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the user is a runner. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 defining a class of shoes adapted for a first type of runner and another class for a second type of runner; and 
 classifying the user as the first type of runner or the second type of runner based on the motion of the center of gravity; 
 wherein the selecting is further based on the classifying. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 defining a class of shoes adapted for a runner having pronation, another class for a runner having supinator, and another class for a runner without pronation or supinator; and 
 classifying the user as a runner having pronation, a runner having supinator, or a runner without pronation or supinator based on the motion of the center of gravity; 
 wherein the selecting is further based on the classifying. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the sport equipment article improves an efficiency of a displacement of the user and/or a protection of a musculotendinous system of the user. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sport equipment article is a sportswear garment. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is portable device, arranged for running a computer program in order to execute said method. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the portable device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is fastened proximate to the center of gravity of the user. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said sequence of acceleration data is measured along at least a vertical direction using said accelerometer. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the sequence of acceleration data includes data in at least an anteroposterior direction that is measured by the accelerometer and processed separately from said sequence of acceleration data in the vertical direction. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the anteroposterior direction is determined by determining a spatial direction in which a displacement is greater. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the sequence of acceleration data includes data in at least a lateral direction that is measured by the accelerometer and processed separately from said sequence of acceleration data in the vertical direction. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining at least one asymmetry in movements of the user based on the motion of the center of gravity, 
 wherein the selecting is further based on the at least one asymmetry in the movements. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating at least one of a balance, explosive power, mobility, resistance, or stability of the user based on the motion of the center of gravity. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating a regularity index of the exercise based on the motion of the center of gravity, 
 wherein the selecting is further based on the regularity index. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising
 calculating a fatigue level indicator based on the regularity index, 
 wherein the selecting is further based on the fatigue level indicator. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating an asymmetry between at least one movement of a left leg and at least one corresponding movement of a right leg and/or the asymmetry between at least one forward movement of the user and at least one corresponding backward movement of the user, 
 wherein the selecting is further based on the calculating. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising
 determining an injury risk indicator calculated based on the asymmetry, 
 wherein the selecting is further based on the injury risk indicator. 
 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for preventing injuries to a user during an athletic activity, the instructions when executed by a processor of a wearable device, cause the wearable device to execute a method comprising:
 measuring a sequence of acceleration data while the wearable device is fastened to the user and the user performs at least one exercise; 
 during or at an end of the exercise, calculating motion of a center of gravity of the user based on the acceleration data; 
 receiving results of a questionnaire from the user; and 
 selecting a sport equipment article for the user based on the motion of the center of gravity of the user and the results of the questionnaire. 
 
     
     
       22. A wearable device designed for preventing injuries to a user during an athletic activity, the comprising:
 a fastening system that mechanically couples the wearable device to the user; 
 an accelerometer; 
 a digital processor that is communicatively coupled to the accelerometer 
 wherein the digital processor is configured to: 
 measure, using the accelerometer, a sequence of acceleration data, while the user performs at least one exercise; 
 during or at an end of the exercise, calculate motion of a center of gravity of the user based on the acceleration data; 
 receive results of a questionnaire from the user; and 
 select a sport equipment article for the user based on the motion of the center of gravity of the user and the results of the questionnaire.